Have You Recently Received a Notice to Appear?  We Can Help!

You may have received something similar to the Notice to Appear document below:

According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, a Notice to Appear / Automated Traffic Enforcement is described as:
40518.  (a) Whenever a written notice to appear has been issued by a peace officer or by a qualified employee of a law enforcement agency on a form approved by the Judicial Council for an alleged violation of Section 22451, or, based on an alleged violation of Section 21453, 21455, or 22101 recorded by an automated enforcement system pursuant to Section 21455.5 or 22451, and delivered by mail within 15 days of the alleged violation to the current address of the registered owner of the vehicle on file with the department, with a certificate of mailing obtained as evidence of service, an exact and legible duplicate copy of the notice when filed with the magistrate shall constitute a complaint to which the defendant may enter a plea. Preparation and delivery of a notice to appear pursuant to this section is not an arrest.
(b) A notice to appear shall contain the name and address of the person, the license plate number of the person's vehicle, the violation charged, including a description of the offense, and the time and place when, and where, the person may appear in court or before a person authorized to receive a deposit of bail. The time specified shall be at least 10 days after the notice to appear is delivered.
Here is what the fine print on the back of the notice says (in normal-size, readable text):
Important—read carefully

This citation is based on photographic evidence
The vehicle identified on the front was photographed in violation of a traffic signal or sign.

You may see the photographs. Contact: ______________________________________
If you were not driving the vehicle at the time of the violation,
Contact ________________________________________________________________

What to do
You have been issued a citation that charges you with a traffic infraction. You must
Respond by following one of the procedures below by the date on the front (see “when”).
If you do not, you may lose your license to drive, and your money penalties may increase.

1. If you do not contest the violation
A. (pay the bail amount) (see “bail information” below) your bail will be forfeited to the court. You will not have to appear in court. You will be convicted of the violation, and it will appear on your record at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). A point count will be charged to your DMV record for this offense and your insurance may be adversely affected.

B. (traffic school) you may be able to avoid the point count and adverse effect on your insurance by attending traffic school. Contact the court to request traffic school. You must pay the bail amount as a fee, and you may have to pay other fees.

2. If you contest the violation (select one)
A. (court trial) send a certified or registered letter postmarked not later than five days prior to the appearance date, or come to the court by the appearance date to request a court trial on a future date when an officer and witnesses will be present. You will be required to submit the bail amount. You will be given a date for your trial.
—or—
B. (trial by written declaration) send a certified or registered letter postmarked not later than five days prior to the appearance date, or come to the court on or before the date on the front and request a trial by written declaration. Submit the bail amount. You will be given forms to allow you to write a statement and submit other evidence without appearing in court. An officer will also submit a statement. The judicial officer will consider all of the evidence at the same time and decide the case.

Writing to the court
If you write to the court, always write the citation number and your driver license number
on your letter. Use of certified or registered mail is required. Do not send your copy of
the citation. Keep it for your own records.

Bail information
The “bail” is the amount you must pay or deposit for the charged violation.
Bail amount: $ ________ or [see enclosed information]
Make the check or money order payable to ____________________________________.
Write the citation number and your driver license number on your check or money order.
You may deposit the bail in person, by mail or by phone.
Night court trials [are] [are not] available for this citation.

Juveniles
If you are under 18, you must be accompanied by your parent or guardian when you
Appear in court. Bring this citation and your driver license. You will be notified by the
Juvenile court of your court date. [for additional information, call the juvenile traffic
Court at________________________________________________________________]

Online information
You may obtain additional information at
[local web site: ________________________________________________________]

2B above is where we come in.  If you have received a Notice to Appear / Automated Traffic Enforcement, we can help you file all the necessary documents to contest the violation including the Written Trial by Declaration.  For more information, visit Fightredligtcameraticketsonline.com, a service provided by Ticket Busters of California or call us at 800.850.8038.

Contact Us: Click Here

5716 Corsa Avenue, Suite 104, Westlake Village, CA 91362